San Joaquin County Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
WILLIAM B. WOLLAM.
A resident of San Joaquin County since 1875, where he has made an
enviable record for honesty and integrity of purpose is William B. Wollam, a
Civil War Veteran, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 6, 1836. His father,
Ratchford Duffield Wollam, who was born in Beaver County, Pa., was a contractor.
He married Sarah Watson, a native of London, England, who came with her parents
to America, having suffered shipwreck on the trip across the Atlantic. In 1856
the elder Wollam removed to St. Paul, where he followed contracting and
building, erecting some of the large business houses of those days. The mother
died in St. Paul, but the father returned to New York, where he spent his last
days. They had a family of four sons and four daughters and all four of the
sons. John, Ford, Harry and William B., served in the Civil War.
As a boy William B. lived in Cincinnati and in Jackson, Ohio, where he
received a good education in the local schools. At the age of seventeen he left
home to earn his own livelihood, going to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he learned
the carpenter's trade. In 1856 he removed to St. Paul, Minn., working at his
trade until 1858, and then returned to Chillicothe, Ohio. In 1862 Mr. Wollam
volunteered in Company D, 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving as
quartermaster-sergeant until he was transferred to Company D, First Ohio Heavy
Artillery, in which he served until he was honorably discharged in Knoxville,
Tenn., on July 25, 1865.
On December 25, 1865, at Chillicothe, Ohio, Mr. Wollam was married to
Miss Annie I. McDougal, born in that place, after which he engaged in
contracting and building in that city until 1875; then he came to California,
locating in Stockton, and here he followed contracting off and on for
twenty-three-years, establishing a successful reputation for building tanks and
tank houses. In 1886 he purchased a lot on North Argonaut Street and built the
residence in which he still resides. He was bereaved of his faithful wife August
27, 1918, a woman much loved and esteemed by all who knew her. She was a devout
Methodist and active in the W. R. C. They were blessed with eight children:
Rowena, Mrs. F. E. Goodell of Stockton; Georgia, Mrs. W. J. Sharp, presides over
her father's home; her two sons served in the World War; Lloyd Keyes Sharp
served ten months overseas, and Norman Sharp served in the U. S. N. R. F. and
was stationed at Goat Island; Ratchford D. lives in Oakland; he served as a
lieutenant in the Spanish-American War in the Sixth California Regiment; Delia
C. is the wife of Blendin Campbell, a celebrated artist in New York City; Percy
V. lives at Pt. Angeles, Wash.; William also served in the Spanish-American War
and while a member of the 17th U. S. Regulars, serving in the Philippines with
others of his command they were ambushed and he was killed; Dell J, also lives
in Pt. Angeles, Wash.; Mrs. Ada Forester is deceased.
In 1878 Mr. Wollam became a member of the Volunteer Fire Department in
Stockton as a member of Weber Engine Company No. 1; he served many years, the
last three years as foreman of the company, up until the pay department was
instituted. He is now vice-president of the Exempt Firemen.
Mr. Wollam has been an Odd Fellow since 1867, being a member of Truth
Lodge, Stockton, as well as the Encampment. He is a member of Rawlins Post No.
23, G. A. R., department of California and Nevada, and of Rawlins Chapter, W. R.
C., and Roosevelt Circle, Ladies of the G. A. R. He is also a member of the
Daughters of Veterans, an honorary member of the Spanish-American War Veterans.
He attends the Department Encampments as well as many of the National
Encampments. Mr. Wollam's life is guided by the Golden Rule, to which he
strictly adheres.
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co.,
1923
p 759
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.